I’ve been to Paris three times and I’m still in awe of the architecture, fashion, makeup looks and most importantly, the fragrances. The French know a thing or two about scents, launching big household names like Chanel, Dior and Frédéric Malle. So whether you’re headed to the ‘City of Love’ or want to create your own signature scent the Parisian way, here are 12 best French perfume brands to check out.
The 12 French Perfume Brands That Will Have You Saying Oui, Oui Et Oui
Including Chanel, Dior and Frédéric Malle
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Published Jun 6, 2025
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Chanel/Sephora/Bloomingdale's
The Best French Perfume Brands at a Glance
1
Best Overall
Diptyque Eau Rose
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2
Best Floral Scent
Parfums de Marly Palatine
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3
Classic Perfume
Chanel Coco
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4
Most Luxury
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540
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5
Editor's Pick
KILIAN Paris Love, Don’t Be Shy Eau de Parfum
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How I Chose the Best French Perfume Brands
PureWow editors vet dozens of products each week—and are avid travelers—so I started there, asking colleagues to share their absolute favorite French perfume brands, including specific picks that readers should check out first. I also conducted hours of research online, pouring over Reddit threads, scanning reviews from retailers like Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s and adding tried-and-true brands we’ve written about in the past (I’m looking at you, Parfums de Marly).
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If you look up the best French perfume brands, chances are Diptyque is at the top of the list. It was founded in 1961 by a group of artists who strived to create fragrances that reminded people of traveling, nature, art and exploring their curiosity. The brand started with their first eau de toilette, L’Eau, and decades later have expanded to candles, body care and home decor. While SEO Editor (and our resident Francophile) Marissa Wu loves their entire collection, her favorite has to be the Eau de Rose. “I’m obsessed with rose perfume, and Eau Rose has been my signature scent for years,” she shared in her review. “It’s a fresh, bright floral that’s a tad sweet—the top note is very green, and the artichoke notes come through. It settles into the crisp, though soft rose notes, which Diptyque derives from Damask and Centifolia roses. The former has a citrus profile, while the latter is known for its green, honeyed notes. As the day wears on, the perfume settles into more of a sweet lychee scent.”
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: damascena, centifolia roses, honey, lychee, cedar, musk
- Size: 3.4 oz
Parfums de Marly is another brand that PureWow editors can’t get enough of (myself included). Founded in 2009, this niche perfume house is inspired by the 18th-century French era and the Royal court—just take a moment to appreciate their intricate bottles. They currently have more than 30 fragrances for men and women, as well as unisex scents that everyone can check out. Although Valaya and Dalina are popular scents, Wu raves about Palatine, writing: “This is an elegant, striking scent that takes something that feels more traditional and turns it on its head a bit. There’s a certain delight in being subversive, and I think that Palatine achieves that. It also has the best longevity of all the perfumes I’ve ever worn, clocking an impressive nearly 15 hours (9 a.m. to midnight). Not to mention, it looks gorgeous on any vanity.”
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: mandarin, bergamot, sandalwood, floral bouquet
- Size: 2.5 oz
I can’t talk about French perfume brands without mentioning Chanel. The famous No.5 launched in 1921, and it’s still considered the most popular fragrance in the market. Once the early ‘00s came to play, the Coco Mademoiselle became the fan favorite, but Wu discovered an emerging scent that’s all over the streets of Paris. “I just smelled Chanel Coco on my Parisian artist friend (who was born in Paris [and] studied ‘art plastique’ at La Sorbonne in the Latin quarter) and wow, why is no one talking about it? It’s alluring and playful but still grown up, and little different from No. 5 and Chance,” she shared.
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: mandarin, jasmin, ylang-ylang, orange blossom
- Size: 1.2 to 3.4 oz
If you’re looking for a perfume that feels like you’re walking through 8th Arrondissement (aka the luxury shopping section of Paris), let it be Maison Francis Kurkdjian. The brand was created in 2009, where renowned perfumer Francis Kurkdjian and co-founder Marc Chaya sought to elevate French perfumery. Their most famous fragrance? The Baccarat Rouge 540. It’s one of the most popular (and most expensive) of the bunch and a favorite for Associate Lifestyle Editor Sydney Meister. In her review of the perfume, she wrote, “If my detailed description of the Extrait should tell you anything, it’s more than just a fragrance—it’s a sensory journey. Between the saffron, bitter almond, Egyptian jasmine, ambroxan and cashmeran, everything comes together for a bold yet balanced finish that’s as lavish as it is irresistibly warm.”
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: jasmine, cedarwood, bitter almond, musk
- Size: 0.37 to 6.8 oz
I’ve been growing my French perfume collection, and this one by KILIAN Paris has become a staple. And when I learned it was Rihanna’s signature scent, I jumped at the chance to try it out myself—and the beauty mogul didn’t steer me wrong. The brand has more than 35 fragrances—all offering a modern twist on traditional perfume practices—but if you’re searching for your first scent from the brand, definitely consider giving Love, Don’t Be Shy a whiff. It has notes of orange blossom and vanilla, but it’s the marshmallow that was (surprisingly) a hit for me.
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: orange blossom, vanilla absolute, luscious marshmallow
- Size: 0.24 to 3.4 oz
Dior is known for its fashion and beauty, but don’t sleep on their fragrances. Miss Dior is a beloved perfume, but J’Adore is what drives fans to the brand time and time again. Just recently, they named Rihanna their new ambassador—a testament to its growing popularity since 1999. With floral notes of ylang-ylang, damascus rose and jasmine, shoppers say it’s ‘timeless,’ ‘luxurious’ and ‘sophisticated.’ Plus, the signature bottle is worth displaying front row and center in your collection.
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: ylang-ylang, damascus rose, jasmine
- Size: 0.67 to 5 oz
Guerlain has been around since 1828, making it one of the oldest Parisian brands that still holds up today. For more than 200 years, the beauty brand has dabbled in skincare, makeup and fragrances. On the fragrance front, it was established in 1921 using key ingredients like vanilla, jasmine, rose and bergamot, to name a few. It has four main collections, but many gravitate toward The Aqua Allegoria Collection, more specifically the Nerolia Vetiver scent that blends woody notes together.
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: neroli, woody vetiver, basil
- Size: 4.2 oz
As I scrolled through Reddit, there were a ton of hidden gems, but one brand that I kept seeing repeatedly was Lancôme’s La Vie Est Belle. Known as “Life Is Beautiful,’ in French, the fragrance has been around since 2012. It’s made to evoke happiness and femininity, with warm and sweet notes of iris, patchouli and vanilla. Loyal reviewers have been using it for years, sharing how long it lasts, how well it smells and the loads of compliments they get daily.
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: iris, patchouli, vanilla
- Size: 0.33 to 5 oz
Another perfume the Redditors adore? Yves Saint Laurent Libre. According to one commenter, this French perfume is a hit during the winter or a night out with friends. With key notes like French lavender, orange blossom and musk accord, the brand strives to have bold fragrances for the local Parisians and excited tourists. Plus, the bottle oozes luxury—and it’s refillable, BTW.
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: lavender, orange blossom, musk avvord
- Size: 0.33 to 5 oz
In 2000, perfumer Frédéric Malle wanted to disrupt the industry with his own fragrance house. With a background in art history and photography, he used his skills to learn more about the art of scent and launched lines that express ultimate luxury, from the bottle design to their rich ingredients. A crowd favorite is Portrait of a Lady, which has key notes of rose, black currant and sandalwood. The brand describes it as “a cross between a couture evening dress and the tales of 1,000 nights”—and its overwhelming responses from reviewers say it hits it out of the park.
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: rose, black currant, sandalwood, raspberry
- Size: 1.7 to 3.4 oz
Maison Margiela perfumes have been a staple for celebrities (like Zendaya and Ariana Grande) and coined as one of the best perfumes for women per PureWow editors. Founded in 1988, the French perfume brand has been making fragrances for decades, but the REPLICA collection is their current best-seller. From ‘Lazy Sunday Morning’ to ‘By the Fireplace,’ each scent is designed to evoke a memory or transport you to a specific time and place. (By the Fireplace, for example, isn’t just a smoky scent; it combines vanilla, cashmere, chestnut and clove oil to give it a warm, cozy—and slightly spicy—vibe.)
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: clove oil, chestnut accord, vanilla accord
- Size: 0.34 to 3.4 oz
12. Chloé L’Eau de Parfum Intense
Chloe
While Chloé came on the scene in the ‘50s, the brand didn’t introduce its first perfume until 1973 with Classique. Although the company was acquired by Unilever, Chloé still holds true to its French roots. Their best-selling fragrance is the Chloé L’Eau de Parfum, a floral scent that’s meant to be a ‘breath of fresh air in early spring.’ It has floral notes of raspberry, rose and ambery woods, but what’s equally iconic is its chic bottle, featuring a burgundy-colored ribbon that nods to their 73-year history as a fashion house.
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: raspberry, rose, ambery woods
- Size: 0.33 to 3.3 oz
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best French Perfume Brand?
While this question can be subjective, a quick Google search found that it’s a three-way tie between Diptyque, Chanel and Dior. These classic fragrance homes have been around for decades, so it makes sense why customers continue to rely on old (and new) perfumes in their collection.
What Is the Really Expensive French Perfume?
If you go by the list above, you’ll find that the most expensive French perfume has to go to Maison Francis Kurkdjian, with their largest 6.8 oz bottle coming in at $665. Other brands that follow are Frédéric Malle (3.4 oz for $470), KILIAN Paris (3.4 oz for $450) and Parfums de Marly (2.5 oz for $390).
Who Is the Most Famous Perfumer in France?
According to The New Yorker, Francis Kurkdijan is considered the most famous (and internet-favorite) in France. Meanwhile, Reddit is leaning towards perfumers like Jacques Polge, Dominique Ropion, Jean-Claude Ellena and Quentin Bisch.
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